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Multiple Soria Taxis are parked on Pear Street waiting to be called out to pick up a passenger.
Multiple Soria Taxis are parked on Pear Street waiting to be called out to pick up a passenger.
Credits: NA Rudy

The intersection where unlicensed taxi driver Francisco Jiminez-Perez struck a pedestrian in North Plainfield, NJ.
The intersection where unlicensed taxi driver Francisco Jiminez-Perez struck a pedestrian in ...Credits: NA Rudy

Francisco Jiminez-Perez was arrested after returning to the Soria Taxi office in North Plainfield, NJ.
Francisco Jiminez-Perez was arrested after returning to the Soria Taxi office in North ...Credits: NA Rudy

By NA RUDY

October 16, 2014 at 7:04 PM

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – An unlicensed taxi driver was arrested early Wednesday morning at Soria Taxi for assault by automobile after striking a pedestrian, Guillermo Acosta, at the corner of Pearl and Somerset streets around 6:30 a.m. After 49-year-old Francisco Jiminez-Perez struck the pedestrian he drove the man home to Park Place.

Although obligated to do so under the law, Jiminez-Perez did not report the accident to the police and returned to the Soria Taxi office.

The pedestrian, who had contusion to his head and a swollen face, called the police and told them about the accident. After a short search, police officer Christopher Brid found Jiminez-Perez at the Soria office at 140 Somerset St. and placed him under arrest.

Jiminez-Perez was charged with assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident, careless driving, failure to report an accident, and failure to yield to a pedestrian. Both Jiminez-Perez and Soria Taxi were issued summonses for operating without a license and will have to report to municipal court. There is no set fee or penalty for driving a taxi without a license, which means the judge sets the penalty. Chief of Police William Parenti says the usual fine issued is $75 plus court fees.

Taxis are the subject of many complaints by residents of North Plainfield, though few report their complaints to the police.

Kevin O’Connor had a bad experience as a passenger. “I had a young cab driver driving a stick (manual transmission) while texting while we were on Route 22,” said O’Connor. “They really don’t pick me up anymore.”

Lisa Coolidge-Ellis and Jessica Lee, who both drop their kids of at school each morning, say that the taxis make it unsafe in the mornings.

“They are bad at Somerset School,” said Coolidge-Ellis. Somerset School is on the corner of Somerset Street and Park Place, about four blocks north of the accident site.

“Dropping kids off at school,” sad Lee. “They almost hit me walking in the cross walk.”

Taxis in New Jersey are regulated by municipal ordinance, and not by the state. The North Plainfield ordinance defines a taxi as any car with a base of operations in the borough that carries passengers for hire, in particular picking people up or dropping them off. People or companies wanting to operate taxis in North Plainfield have to pass a background check and be cleared by the Police Department.

All taxi cab drivers also have to be approved by the chief of police. No one who has been convicted of a violent crime, DWI or drug offense; have a recent history of repeated traffic violations; lied on their application; or been convicted of anything the Police Chief thinks would adversely affect their ability to operate a motor vehicle. Fingerprinted background checks are mandatory.

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater Township Planning Board approved a minor site plan to revamp vacant retail space, formerly the Golfsmith, into a specialized grocery store in the Bridgewater Promenade – but details on the identity of that grocery store have not yet been released.

The applicant’s attorney said that the proposed changes were to convert the former Golfsmith store and part of the ...

Watchung Hills sent out an alert that said,”Please be advised that Routes HS01 and HS03 covering Long Hill Twp may be affected due to a downed tree on Mountain Avenue between Morristown Road and Long Hill Road.”

WARREN, NJ - The Autism Think Tank, NJ is hosting its 7th Annual Toy Drive and Holiday Party for children with special needs and their families. Consider donating a toy to make the holidays brighter for our local families. To sign up for the toy drive and see drop off locations or to register to attend the event, use the links below.

Toy ...

WARREN, NJ - The Autism Think Tank, NJ is hosting its 7th Annual Toy Drive and Holiday Party for ...

NEW JERSEY — Police officers across the state are now restricted from asking you certain questions because of a directive issued by state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

Grewal’s policy — which applies to all state, county and local law enforcement agencies — also limits the types of voluntary assistance that police may provide to federal civil immigration authorities, including Immigration ...

NEW JERSEY — Police officers across the state are now restricted from asking you certain questions ...

The Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County is holding information sessions to learn more about becoming a volunteer adult literacy tutor.

The sessions will be held Jan. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Franklin Township Library; Jan. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bridgewater Township Library; and Jan. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hillsborough Township Library.

Literacy Volunteers is ...

The Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County is holding information sessions to learn more about ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – Nokia has hired a consulting group to help evaluate whether Nokia should stay at its current location.

Mayor Robert Woodruff made that information public at a recent Township Council meeting. As a prelude to the announcement, he told the council he and Township John Bussiculo have been “paying attention to the Nokia Alcatel property,” in particular because of the ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – Nokia has hired a consulting group to help evaluate whether Nokia ...

BRANCHBURG, NJ – The former Neshanic Flea Market property has been added to the South Branch Greenway.

The 3.68-acre parcel of land including a historic residence was subdivided and a 2.8-acre parcel was deeded to the Somerset County Open Space Preservation Program; the other parcel containing a little less than an acre was deeded to Branchburg Township.

Located at the intersection of Main ...

BRANCHBURG, NJ – The former Neshanic Flea Market property has been added to the South Branch ...